WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States and other countries trying to reach a global agreement to limit government subsidies to the steel industry announced Tuesday they are suspending the deadlocked discussions until some time next year. The decision was a blow to the Bush administration's hopes of curbing what the U.S. industry views as unfair foreign competition. The talks, held under the auspices of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, will resume next year after the United States has conducted a round of one-on-one meetings with key countries, an administration official told reporters.
James Jochum, assistant Commerce secretary for import administration, said he and other Commerce officials would be visiting China, Japan, South Korea, India, Egypt and other nations in coming months in an effort to narrow differences so the talks can resume. The OECD talks involved some 39 countries representing the major steel-producing nations.
The union representing American steelworkers expressed disappointment that the talks had been suspended and said it was a blow to the drive to protect American jobs.
"The United Steelworkers of America finds this delay in concluding subsidy negotiations a deeply disturbing and unacceptable turn of events that poses a long-term threat to steel jobs and communities," union president Leo Gerard said in a statement. "With all parties leaving the negotiating table, it is clear to the USWA that our trading partners wish to continue the 30-plus years of predatory practices against American steel and American steelworkers," Gerard said. "The Europeans, the Japanese and the developing countries have no desire to give up any of the trade distorting subsidies they either have in place or plan for the future."
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBSPMXJ2WD.html
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
